Nestlé appoints Laurent Freixe as new CEO

SWITZERLAND – Nestlé, the parent company of Purina Petcare, has appointed Laurent Freixe as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective September 1, 2024. 

Freixe will succeed Ulf Mark Schneider, stepping down after serving as CEO since January 2017. The announcement was made on August 22, 2024.

Freixe, Latin America’s executive vice president and CEO since January 2022, will lead the global food and nutrition giant. He will also be nominated to join the board of directors at Nestlé’s Annual General Meeting in April 2025.

Schneider, who has overseen significant strategic shifts during his tenure, will remain with the company until the end of the month to ensure a smooth transition. He leaves a legacy of transforming Nestlé into a more innovative and sustainable business, focusing on high-growth areas such as coffee, pet care, and nutritional health products.

“Leading Nestlé for the past eight years has been an honour for me,” Schneider remarked. “I am grateful for what we have achieved together and am confident that Laurent will continue to drive the company forward.”

Freixe’s career with Nestlé began in France in 1986. He has held various executive roles, including CEO of Zone Europe, CEO of Nestlé’s Iberian region, and CEO of Zone Americas. His recent role as CEO of Zone Latin America involved managing significant growth and operational challenges.

“I am privileged to take on this role and am excited about the opportunity to further build and strengthen Nestlé,” Freixe said. “Our strengths, including iconic brands and global presence, will position us to lead and excel in every market.”

Freixe’s leadership is anticipated to build on Nestlé’s strong foundation, focusing on innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable growth.

The company, which employs 270,000 people globally and operates in 188 countries, continues to offer a diverse portfolio of over 2,000 brands, including Nespresso, KitKat, and PurinaOne.

FDA investigation finds no evidence linking Purina Pet Foods to pet illnesses

In other news, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concluded that there is no evidence that recent pet illnesses are not linked to Purina pet food. 

From 2023, the USDA began receiving unusually high adverse event reports associating various pet illnesses with Nestlé Purina PetCare products, predominantly among dogs. 

The reported symptoms included gastrointestinal issues, kidney, liver, and neurological problems, with gastrointestinal symptoms being the most commonly mentioned. As social media attention on these reports grew, the brands implicated became more varied.

Between November 2023 and April 2024, the FDA received approximately 1,300 adverse event reports on Purina pet foods. 

However, only 107 of these reports contained sufficient information for comprehensive follow-up. FDA veterinarians reviewed medical records, interviewed pet owners, and conducted laboratory tests on opened and unopened food samples.

Testing by the FDA’s Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN) revealed no significant findings of mycotoxins, excess vitamin D, harmful bacteria, pesticides, or rancid fat in the pet food samples. 

Although Bacillus cereus, which can produce toxins, was detected in some opened food samples, it was not found in any unopened products from retail sources.

“After thoroughly analysing pet food adverse event reports, testing opened products from pet owners and sealed products from retail settings and conducting a facility inspection, the FDA has determined the existing evidence does not identify a public health concern that could explain the symptoms detailed in these adverse event reports about Purina pet foods,” FDA representatives stated in their summary of the investigation.

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